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**skipmac** · 22-06-2021, 06:36

After several years on the wait list I've finally gotten a mooring. However my experience with boats has been mainly anchoring or at a dock which has brought up a question.

When anchored I am usually on the boat or only away for short periods so one anchor on chain rode with a snubber and the chain secured as backup.

However I will be leaving the boat on the mooring for extended periods, occasionally when I'm traveling. My conservative side wants to use two pendants to the mooring ball but as the boat swings with wind and tide within a few days two lines are twisted up, occasionally knotted around the ring on the top of the mooring chain where they can chaff.

So maybe one line is better? The main mooring pendant is seriously oversized with a very large thimble and eye spliced into the end that attaches to the mooring chain where I use a heavy Crosby shackle.

Maybe that's safe enough and avoids the tangle and potential problems?

Nicholson58 · 22-06-2021, 06:53

We spent months on a ball our first season in the Caribbean.

Two pennants, one on each side of the bow.

Pennant from a deck cleat, through the mooring eye, return to the same side of the boat.

Do not run a pennant from port to starboard as this allows the line to slide through the mooring eye and chafe.

If the mooring eye is the least bit rough then add in your own hardware to Make a smooth surface for your lines to bear against.

We use Kevlar antichafe (Small old fire hose).

Some boats work well with the mooring pennant over a bow roller.

Our boat is particularly heavy so stretchy pennants do not work. We use 1” dynema. For us, every stretchy line chafes through in a week or less. We are on year four on the dynema.

Dive the mooring to make sure the hardware is in good shape.

**skipmac** · 22-06-2021, 07:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

Dive the mooring to make sure the hardware is in good shape.

That was the very first concern. In the local harbor diving the mooring is a bit of a challenge. Very low viz and the mooring is sunk deep into a muddy bottom. 99% of the time I trust my own anchor over any mooring but in this case they are regulated by the local harbormaster and by regulation are inspected annually. I personally know the guy that does the inspections and he is top of it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

Two pennants, one on each side of the bow.

Pennant from a deck cleat, through the mooring eye, return to the same side of the boat.

Do not run a pennant from port to starboard as this allows the line to slide through the mooring eye and chafe.

I am using two pendants although not run through the eye and back to the cleat. Instead the main pendant over the roller (heavy duty and well reinforced) with a thimble and eye spliced into the end and shackled to the ring on the ball. Then the backup is a smaller line through stbd bow chock also one way to the ball.

Whether two pendants through the eye and back to the same side cleat or two pendants that are single line there is still the problem of the pendants tangling as the boat spins around with the wind and tide.

deblen · 22-06-2021, 07:30

Another option is 2 heavy pendants. One is shorter than the other.
If the short one breaks,the other is your safety. Some insurance co.'s in this area req'd this setup-even to preferring it to 2 equal length pendants.
Just another opinion. Cheers/Len

https://marinehowto.com/mooring-pend...ughts-musings/

Tomodore · 22-06-2021, 08:01

Chafe guards and smooth surfaces are good, keep in mind that most modern lines fail through melting. so use porous canvas so rain can help cool line in storm. We had tug captain talk to our club and he said they always slack the synthetic tow line in water after taking the load on the barge to cool it.

**skipmac** · 22-06-2021, 08:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by deblen

Another option is 2 heavy pendants. One is shorter than the other.
If the short one breaks,the other is your safety. Some insurance co.'s in this area req'd this setup-even to preferring it to 2 equal length pendants.
Just another opinion. Cheers/Len

https://marinehowto.com/mooring-pend...ughts-musings/

I rigged double pendants one long, one short for the reason you mention.

The problem is two pendants tangle when the boat spins in the wind.

The question is not how to rig two pendants, the question is whether to use two at all or just stick with one.

**skipmac** · 22-06-2021, 08:05

If I may clarify.

I know how to rig two pendants.

I know how to rig chaffing gear on the boat.

The questions is whether I should use only one pendant to avoid the tangling and potential chaffing on the mooring ball eye with two pendants due to the boat circling in the wind and current.

capt jgw · 22-06-2021, 08:15

I use two separate pennants connected to the top ring on the buoy with a single large screw pin shackle. Pin is moused with SS wire. To prevent the lines wrapping around the buoy I run them through hollow pool noodles (pipe insulation works too) and lash them together for about half the distance to the boat. They float for easier pick up and can't wrap the buoy. The bright color makes them easier to see at night too. Been doing it this way for about 25 years now.

GreenWave · 22-06-2021, 08:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by capt jgw

I use two separate pennants connected to the top ring on the buoy with a single large screw pin shackle. Pin is moused with SS wire. To prevent the lines wrapping around the buoy I run them through hollow pool noodles (pipe insulation works too) and lash them together for about half the distance to the boat. They float for easier pick up and can't wrap the buoy. The bright color makes them easier to see at night too. Been doing it this way for about 25 years now.

Interesting - do you have a picture of this set-up?

Kelkara · 22-06-2021, 10:39

I'm going to ask a stupid question ... there must be a good reason, since nobody seems to do it ... but if chafe is the concern, then why not use a length of chain instead?

C420sailor · 22-06-2021, 10:49

Two.

Had I only had one during the last tropical storm, I would’ve lost my boat.

Two is one, one is none.

Cadence · 22-06-2021, 14:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelkara

I'm going to ask a stupid question ... there must be a good reason, since nobody seems to do it ... but if chafe is the concern, then why not use a length of chain instead?

What absorbs the shock?

kenbo · 22-06-2021, 14:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelkara

I'm going to ask a stupid question ... there must be a good reason, since nobody seems to do it ... but if chafe is the concern, then why not use a length of chain instead?

Not a stupid question, some do use a short length (12-15") over the chocks for this very reason.

Clivevon · 22-06-2021, 15:43

Sorry if I'm being a bit dense but why do two mooring pennants (pendants, whatever) twist up due to wind & tide? It isnt like setting two anchors. The mooring will (should) have at least one strong swivel built in to avoid that problem & if it has no swivel, what is happening to the mooring chain itself? If that keeps twisting underwater, the chain will eventually be weakened. There should certainly be a low level swivel to stop that.

When putting rope through a metal mooring eye, always put at least one complete round turns around the ring - even if just for an overnight stay. On a permanent mooring I would be inclined to get in the dinghy & rig two strong pennants (with a pickup buoy) shackled to the buoy if none is provided. Remember you may also be able to connect your pennants direct to the mooring chain immediately underneath the mooring ball, bypassing the ball altogether. That would be the strongest option.